Ford Starts Hands-On Training Program for People with Autism – The Good News

"The work is highly structured, requires a great deal of focus, and calls for a high level of attention to detail and organization."

Ford Motor Company has announced a hands-on initiative that will give people with autism the opportunity to gain work experience. It begins on June 1st, according to a press release by the company.

The FordInclusive Works program will begin in their product development department, and will cater to the skills that people with ASD have. The release says:

For example, in the vehicle evaluation and verification test lab, a FordInclusiveWorks participant will log and prep tires for test vehicles used by engineers for product assessment. The work is highly structured, requires a great deal of focus, and calls for a high level of attention to detail and organization. Skills required to complete this task safely and with a high level of quality lend themselves to strengths typically associated with individuals with autism.

As of 2015, only 58% of young adults with autism were employed. Obviously, this has a lot to do with the economy, but now, a lot of companies are specifically hiring people with ASD and using them to their strengths.

That's something that we're always worried about with our son...will he go on to work as an adult? Are there any companies that welcome people with ASD? Nice job, Ford. Very happy that the tide is turning.